To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE IN JOHNSTON COUNT!
v HISTORY FILE
Mrs, T . J . Lassiter, Sr.
The Johnston County Library has been In existence since Augusg 15, 1941 when the
county commissioners met and appropriated $ 3,000 for library service and approved a
library board of six members in compliance with the state library law.
The foundation for the establishment of county library service had been laid by
the Woman's Clubs of Smithfield, Clayton, Benson, Selma and Eenly when through their
efforts public library service was established in each of these towns. Through the
co- operation of these clubs, the State Library Commission and the VP A, a bookmobile
was brought to Johnston County to distribute books to the rural areas for six weeks
in 1938, and again for two months in 1940. The movement for county- wide service was
aided also by the county home demonstration agent who in 1938 began taking books
borrowed from the State Library Commission to her club meetings. A special VP A
worker was secured to have charge of this service. Interest in reading was stimulated
by the offering of an award of merit to each club woman who read ten books during the
year, four of which were to be non- fiction. This was the forerunner of the reading
certificate r> lan now in use in the State Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs.
With a taste of what library service could mean, promoters of county- wide ser­vice
told their story to the county commissioners and secured the f i r s t appropriation.
This enabled participation in State Aid, which was f i r s t voted by the North Carolina
legislature in 1941. The f i r s t year Johnston received $ 1,298,35 which together with
the $ 3,000 county appropriation made possible the employment of a trained librarian,
the purchase of a bookmobile and the purchase of a few books.
At the same time the five town libraries already operating were to continue ef­forts
to extend services as well as to co- operate in the county- wide system which
established bookmobile stops throughout the county and encouraged new town libraries.
During the very firstt year of State Aid in Johnston County, the policy of building
county- wide library service through the financial support of state, county and local

DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE IN JOHNSTON COUNT!
v HISTORY FILE
Mrs, T . J . Lassiter, Sr.
The Johnston County Library has been In existence since Augusg 15, 1941 when the
county commissioners met and appropriated $ 3,000 for library service and approved a
library board of six members in compliance with the state library law.
The foundation for the establishment of county library service had been laid by
the Woman's Clubs of Smithfield, Clayton, Benson, Selma and Eenly when through their
efforts public library service was established in each of these towns. Through the
co- operation of these clubs, the State Library Commission and the VP A, a bookmobile
was brought to Johnston County to distribute books to the rural areas for six weeks
in 1938, and again for two months in 1940. The movement for county- wide service was
aided also by the county home demonstration agent who in 1938 began taking books
borrowed from the State Library Commission to her club meetings. A special VP A
worker was secured to have charge of this service. Interest in reading was stimulated
by the offering of an award of merit to each club woman who read ten books during the
year, four of which were to be non- fiction. This was the forerunner of the reading
certificate r> lan now in use in the State Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs.
With a taste of what library service could mean, promoters of county- wide ser­vice
told their story to the county commissioners and secured the f i r s t appropriation.
This enabled participation in State Aid, which was f i r s t voted by the North Carolina
legislature in 1941. The f i r s t year Johnston received $ 1,298,35 which together with
the $ 3,000 county appropriation made possible the employment of a trained librarian,
the purchase of a bookmobile and the purchase of a few books.
At the same time the five town libraries already operating were to continue ef­forts
to extend services as well as to co- operate in the county- wide system which
established bookmobile stops throughout the county and encouraged new town libraries.
During the very firstt year of State Aid in Johnston County, the policy of building
county- wide library service through the financial support of state, county and local